Top order batsman Soumya Sarkar emerged as the first Bangladeshi to register a List A double century. The left-handed opener struck a fiery 208 not out to make Abahani Ltd defeat Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club by nine wickets at BSKP and lift Dhaka Premier League 2019 title on Tuesday (Apr 23).
The previous highest in the tournament was recorded by Raqibul Hasan with 190 runs in 138 balls for Mohammedan SC in the 2017 season.
During the eventful day, Soumya made two more records, hitting most sixes in a List A innings by a Bangladesh batsmen and also post highest partnership at any stand in the tournament. Soumya had been out of touch and felt frustrated as he failed to score big in the early part of the season. But, the frustration should now be blown away with sheer confident as the left-handed batsman, who scored 106 in the previous match, struck back to back centuries to finish the season with 511 runs in 13 innings.
Chasing 319 runs, Abahani were given a perfect start by the two openers, Soumya and Jahaurul Islam. The duo made the big chase during the crucial title decider easy and in the end clinched a majestic win with a royal opening stand of 312. The stand was broken after Jahurul was dismissed on 100 by Imtiaz Hossain. The Soumya-Jahurul partnership is the highest for any wicket in Bangladesh List A. The previous highest opening stand had come from Anamul Haque and Nazmul Hossain Shanto of 236 runs for Abahani in the last season of Dhaka League.
The highest for any wicket in Bangladesh domestic arena was registered in 2007, in the National Cricket League 50-over cricket tournament. Mahbubul Karim and Dhiman Ghosh had posted 290 runs for Chittagong Division against Rajshahi Division.
Soumya in his unbeaten 153-ball innings slammed 16 over boundaries to surpass his previous record. Soumya along with Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Saif Hasan with 11 sixes respectively had shared the record of most sixes. Saif had reached the milestone on Sunday last. The right-handed batsman had scored 148 off 116 to guide Prime Doleshwar SC to a victory against Sheikh Jamal.
Bangladesh ODI captain Mashrafe had bagged the record during the 2016 season of the Dhaka League, also against Sheikh Jamal. Mashrafe’s whirlwind 100 off just 50-ball against Kalabagan Krira Chakra contained that many sixes to create a record.
Soumya did not only break all sorts of record but his innings was well paced, articulated and no praise is enough as he did that under the scorching summer sun. The Abahani batsman made a rather cautious start as he needed 26 balls to reach his fifty but he decided to up the tempo and scored his second fifty in just half the balls, 26, to reach his ton in 78 balls. He kept the exact same pace as he scored his next fifty in 26 balls and with his swash-buckling efforts the defending champions were cruising to reach home easily.
But the 26-year old with the experience of 41-ODI matches did not rush and slowed the innings in order to provide an absolute safety, illustrating his thinking prowess. He took as many as 45 balls to score next 50 that not only became historical in Bangladesh cricket but also resisted any potential collapse that could spoil Abahani’s party.
And befittingly, Soumya scored a six off Taijul Islam, his seventh against the same bowler, in the first ball of 48th over for the game, set, and match. Abahni successfully defended the title and Soumya led the way with the most amazing innings in country’s history.